Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup Third Round 2025-26 Preview

The Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup Third Round is upon us as 40 clubs from across the country will be looking to book their place in the Fourth Round. 

This round sees 10 Championship and 10 League 1 sides enter the competition, joining the 20 sides who advanced from the Second Round.

Joining the Championship and League 1 sides are the eight sides from League 2, five sides from the Highland League, four from the Lowland League, one each from the East and West of Scotland League Premier Divisions and one from the West of Scotland First Division.

One of the standout ties of the round is a Lanarkshire Derby as Airdrieonians host close neighbours Hamilton Academical as they face each other in Airdrie for the first time since January 1970 in the Scottish Cup. The Diamonds will be hoping for a repeat of that as they came out 5-0 winners.

The Third Round always throws up some intriguing fixtures, and none more so this year than Kelty Hearts hosting Highland League leaders Brechin City. 2021 saw the Hedgemen exit the SPFL, losing out 3-1 on aggregate to Kelty Hearts in the play-offs. As City seek a return to the SPFL from the Highland League, facing League 1 Kelty will be a real test of their abilities if they’re to reach the Fourth Round.

Another side seeking a return to the SPFL is Bonnyrigg Rose, after their relegation to the Lowland League last season. Riding high towards the top of a competitive division, The Rose will be looking to get one over near neighbours Spartans in the very first Scottish Cup meeting between the two sides.

BBC Scotland’s live fixture from the Third Round will come from Prestonfield, Linlithgow, as the Rosey Posey will be facing Sean Crighton’s Queen’s Park in the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides. Another side challenging for promotion in the Lowland League, Linlithgow Rose will be looking to go one step further than they achieved last season, as they were defeated at the same stage by Raith Rovers.

The full list of fixtures and potential postponement dates is listed at the bottom of the page.

The Third Round in the women's competition will take place next weekend.

Scottish Cup Road Trip 

Methil was the latest stop on the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Road Trip, with the famous old trophy visiting East Fife on Thursday ahead of the club's Third Round clash with Arbroath at Bayview on Saturday.

Following visits to holders Aberdeen, and Clydebank, in the previous rounds, the men's and women's Scottish Cup trophies visited Aberhill Primary School, with East Fife manager Dick Campbell also dropping by.

The Scottish FA then hosted an 'Evening with the Scottish Cup' event for East Fife supporters at the stadium, with supporters having a chance to get a photo with the trophies, and enjoying a Q&A from former Bayview favourites Stevie Kirk and Paul McManus.

Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup Fourth Round Draw

The draw for the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup Fourth Round will take place on Sunday evening, live on BBC Sportscene at 7:15pm, with the draw taking place at approximately 8pm. Fans can tune in, or stream it via the BBC iPlayer or the BBC Sport Scotland website.

Former Celtic, Hibernian and Ayr United winger Aiden McGeady – double Scottish Cup winner in 2005 and 2007 with the Parkhead side will join the Sportscene team for the draw.

Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup Third Round